Crate for 20-24 oz. bottles

ABSTRACT

A low depth bottle crate has a peripheral wall of uniform height that includes a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls and a crate bottom connected to the peripheral wall. An upper surface of the crate bottom is formed to include a bottle supporting platform for each bottle to be received in the crate. There are a plurality of substantially U-shaped cut-outs in upper portions of the side and end walls that define columns between the cut-outs, lower portions of the peripheral wall and the columns being of single wall construction except for hollow caps at upper ends of the columns that are of double wall construction. The cut-outs terminate at a ledge that separates the upper portions of the side and end walls from the lower portions of the side and end walls. Each of the columns, except for four corner columns, has a support buttress extending downwardly and inwardly from a lower edge of a respective one of the hollow caps to the crate bottom. The lower portions of the side and end walls are connected to the crate bottom by a plurality of inwardly directed ribs arranged in groups, directly below each cut-out.

[0001] This invention relates to crate constructions for bottles andmore specifically, to a low depth crate for 20-24 oz. bottles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Low depth bottle crates are well known in the art as exemplifiedby U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,700,836; 4,928,841; 5,060,819; and 5,855,277. Thesecrates typically have side and end walls that extend only aboutone-third the height of standard two-liter bottles. This means that,when loaded and stacked, crates rest directly on the bottles in anunderlying crate. The low depth of the crate is attractive, however,since it reduces material costs, enhances visibility of the bottles, andreduces shipping space when the crates are stacked empty. Some priorcrates employ crate height increasing features to provide greatersupport for bottles received therein, while still permitting the bottlelabels to be seen. Such features may include columns that extend abovethe side and end walls of the crate as exemplified in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,899,874; 4,978,002; and 5,501,352.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The crate of this invention includes a peripheral wall (inclusiveof side and end walls) of uniform height with substantially U-shapedcut-outs spaced along the side and end walls of the crate. The cut-outsextend from the upper edge of the peripheral wall downwardly to a ledgeor shelf that separates the peripheral wall into upper and lowerportions. These cut-outs in the upper portion of the side and end wallsmay also be viewed as defining columns or pillars in the upper portionof the side walls, end walls and corners, between the cut-outs. Thelower portion is solid about the periphery of the crate with theexception of two cut-outs in the end walls extending from the cratebottom upwardly to respective handle bars that are flush with the topsurface of the peripheral wall. As such, the handle bars interrupt theotherwise regular occurrence of the cut-outs in the upper portion of theperipheral wall.

[0004] The interior of the crate is open, i.e., there are no partitions,columns or other interior structures defining compartments for one ormore bottles. Thus, the crate bottom, a grid-like structure described indetail further below, has a flat upper surface throughout the crateinterior, but with defined bottle support platforms arranged in fourrows of six, that are flush with the upper surface, each platformincluding a solid annular ring. Thus, the crate is designed to carrytwenty-four individual 20-24 oz. bottles.

[0005] The peripheral wall is generally of single thickness constructionwith the exception of certain areas at the tops of the columns and thehandle bars that are of double thickness as described below.

[0006] The interior of the lower portion of the peripheral wall isjoined to the crate bottom directly below respective cut-outs in theupper peripheral wall portion by three vertical, inwardly projectingribs. The two outside ribs of each group of three ribs merge with edgesurfaces of adjacent columns. The upper (approximate) ⅓ of the columnsare of double thickness, forming a closed “cap” on the top of eachcolumn. For the columns along the side and end walls, an internalsupport buttress extends from the lower edge of the cap downwardly andat an acute angle relative to vertical, joining with the crate bottomwell inwardly of the lower portion of the peripheral wall and the threevertical ribs between adjacent columns. Since the bottle supportplatforms are generally aligned with the cut-outs, the buttresses extendpartially between adjacent support platforms and thus provide somesupport for individual bottles located along the side and end walls ofthe crate. The corner columns are generally similar, but do not includethe internal buttresses.

[0007] The handle bars are also of double thickness and extend between apair of columns in the respective end walls. A support strut andpedestal arrangement connects the center of each handle bar directly tothe crate bottom.

[0008] The lower surface of the crate bottom is formed with recessesaligned with the bottle support platforms on the upper surface, thusproviding defined spaces for the caps of bottles in an underlying cratewhen similar filled crates are stacked. The recesses each have a flatbase area that is larger than a respective bottle cap, but the recessesare not all of the same configuration. Rather, there is a symmetricalarray of partially circular recesses.

[0009] Specifically, the lower surface of the crate bottom is arrangedin four quadrants, each a mirror image of the adjacent quadrants alongthe longitudinal and transverse axes. Within each quadrant, theundersides of the six bottle supporting platforms is different in termsof rib height, but similar in terms of overall grid configuration.Annular ribs depending from each bottle supporting platform generallyhave a maximum rib height that coincides with the bottom surfaces of thegrid that engage a supporting surface. In the instant invention, theannular ribs are formed to have some circumferential portion reduced inheight so as to be contiguous or flush with reduced height ribs bothinside and outside the annular ribs thereby providing additionalselectively oriented spaces for the bottle caps to slide in anuninhibited manner. This arrangement facilitates dragging of an upper,filled crate off a lower filled crate when stacked.

[0010] More specifically, the height of the annular rib defining onerecess (adjacent one side wall and the transverse axis of the crate) isdecreased through an angle of slightly more than 90° along a portionfacing the nearest side wall, thus permitting a respective bottle cap toslide across rib and laterally toward the nearest side wall.

[0011] The next adjacent recess along the side wall in the direction ofthe nearest end wall is defined by an annular rib that is decreased inheight through approximately 180° along portions facing the nearest sideand end walls, such that the bottle cap is free to move transverselytoward that side wall, and longitudinally toward but not into the nextadjacent recess.

[0012] The next adjacent recess in the nearest corner of the crate isdefined by a rib that is decreased in height through about 200° alsoalong portions facing the nearest side and end walls. A respectivebottle cap is thus free to move transversely toward side the nearestwall and longitudinally toward the nearest end wall.

[0013] The above described recesses lie in one row of one quadrant,extending from the transverse axis along the side wall to an end wall.The second row of the quadrant extending from the transverse axis to thesame end wall but along the longitudinal axis (and adjacent the firstrow in the longitudinal direction) has recesses that are generallysimilar to adjacent recesses in the first row, but with slightdifferences in the angles through which the reduced height annular ribsextend as dictated by the grid pattern of the crate bottom.

[0014] The overall symmetrical pattern of recesses generally centers onefilled crate atop another, but allows movement of underlying bottle capswithin defined areas and thus facilitates the dragging of one filledcrate off another filled crate.

[0015] Accordingly, in one aspect, the invention relates to a low depthbottle crate having a peripheral wall of uniform height, the peripheralwall including a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls; a cratebottom connected to the peripheral wall, an upper surface of the cratebottom formed to include a bottle supporting platform for each bottle tobe received in the crate; a plurality of substantially U-shaped cut-outsin upper portions of the side and end walls defining columns between thecut-outs, lower portions of the peripheral wall and the columns being ofsingle wall construction except for hollow caps at upper ends of thecolumns that are of double wall construction; each of the columns,except for four corner columns, having a support buttress extendingdownwardly and inwardly from a lower edge of a respective one of thehollow caps to the crate bottom, and wherein the cut-outs terminate at aledge that separates the upper portions of the side and end walls fromthe lower portions of the side and end walls, and further wherein thelower portions of the side and end walls are connected to the cratebottom by a plurality of inwardly directed ribs arranged in groups,directly below each cut-out.

[0016] In another aspect, the invention relates to a low depth bottlecrate having a peripheral wall of uniform height, said peripheral wallincluding a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls; a crate bottomconnected to said peripheral wall, an upper surface of the crate bottomformed to include a bottle supporting platform for each bottle to bereceived in the crate; a plurality of substantially U-shaped cut-outs inupper portions of the side and end walls defining columns between thecut-outs, the cut-outs terminating at a ledge that separates the upperportions of the side and end walls from lower portions of the side andend walls, and wherein handle cut-outs are provided in lower portions ofthe end walls, defining handle bars that extend between adjacent columnsin the end walls directly above the handle cut-outs, each handle barconnected directly to the crate bottom at a mid-point of the handle bar.

[0017] In still another aspect, the invention relates to a low depthbottle crate having a peripheral wall of uniform height, the peripheralwall including a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls; a cratebottom connected to the peripheral wall, an upper surface of the cratebottom formed to include a bottle supporting platform for each bottle tobe received in the crate; a plurality of substantially U-shaped cut-outsin upper portions of the side and end walls defining columns between thecut-outs, lower portions of the peripheral wall and the columns being ofsingle wall construction except for hollow caps at upper ends of thecolumns that are of double wall construction; wherein handle cut-outsare provided in lower portions of the end walls, and handle bars extendbetween adjacent columns in the end walls directly above the handlecut-outs, each handle bar connected directly to the crate bottom; andthe crate bottom having a lower surface formed with an array of recessesadapted to engage bottle caps of bottles carried in an underlyingsimilar crate, the recesses in each of four quadrants being individuallydifferent but substantial mirror images of recesses in adjacentquadrants in respective longitudinal and transverse directions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the crate in accordance with theinvention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a right side elevation view of the crate shown in FIG.1;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a right end view of the crate shown in FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the crate in FIG. 1;

[0022]FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the crate shown in FIG. 1;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

[0024]FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

[0025]FIG. 8 is a section taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 5; and

[0026]FIG. 9 is a partial bottom perspective view of one quadrant of thecrate shown in FIGS. 1-5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] With reference initially to FIGS. 1-5, the crate 10 in theexemplary embodiment is a one-piece molded plastic construction and hasa peripheral wall 12 that includes a pair of side walls 14, 16 and apair of end walls 18, 20. The peripheral wall 12 is of uniform height,extending from a crate bottom 22 to an intermittent or discontinuous topsurface 24. The latter is created by a series of U-shaped cut-outs 26that are spaced about the peripheral wall, with six such cut-outs ineach of the respective side walls 14, 16 and two in each of therespective end walls 18, 20. The cut-outs 26 reduce the weight of thecrate and also provide good visibility with respect to labels onindividual bottles in the crate. In this regard, the cut-outs 26 arecentered on individual bottle support platforms formed in the cratebottom, with two mutually perpendicular cut-outs for the supportplatforms in the corners of the crate. Each cut-out in the side and endwalls has a pair of inclined, substantially straight sides 28, 30 thatextend downwardly from the discontinuous top surface 24 to a shelf orledge 32 that separates the peripheral wall into upper and lowerportions. The lower portion is solid about the periphery of the crate,with interruptions only in the end walls where handle cut-outs 34 extendfrom the crate bottom 22 upwardly to handle bars 36 that allow the crateto be grasped at opposite ends.

[0028] The cut-outs 26 may also be said to define a plurality of columnsor pillars 38 along the side walls and 38′ along the end walls thatextend upwardly from the shelf or ledge 32, terminating at the topsurface 24 of the peripheral wall. In the exemplary embodiment, thereare five columns 38 along each side wall, two columns 38′ along each endwall, and one column 40 in each of the four corners of the crate. Withexceptions explained below relating to the end wall and corner columns38′, 40, respectively, the structure of all of the columns 38, 38′ and40 is substantially identical, and therefore, only one need be describedin detail. Thus, with particular reference to FIGS. 1, 4, 6 and 7, eachcolumn 38 is of generally single wall construction. The upper portion ofthe column is formed as a hollow cap 42 by making approximately theupper one third of the column of double thickness, with top surface 24connecting the outer surface of the column to an inner surface 44. Fromthe lower edge 46 of the inner surface 44, a support buttress 48 extendsdownwardly and inwardly at an acute angle to the column. An inward step50 and a rib 52 that runs the length of the buttress, provide addedstrength. Two additional ribs 54, 56 on the inner surface 44 of thehollow cap strengthen the cap but also face toward, and provide supportfor, bottles on adjacent support platforms. Note also that side edges58, 60 of the columns 40 wrap around the shelf or ledge 34 to provideadditional stiffness to the columns.

[0029] With reference especially to FIGS. 1 and 2, wedge “slides” 62 areprovided in alternating columns along the side walls. These “slides”bridge the upper and lower portions of the side walls, essentiallyeliminating the ledge 32 at these locations, and thus providing a smoothtransition between the upper and lower portions of the side walls. Thisarrangement allows one crate side wall to slide down an underlying crateside wall without interference from ledge 24, when individual crates areremoved from a stack of similar crates.

[0030] Between each pair of adjacent columns 38 (and between respectivecorner and end wall columns 40, 38′), the lower portions of the sidewalls 14, 16 and end walls 18, 20 are connected to the crate bottom 22by groups of three laterally spaced, substantially L-shaped ribs 64, 66and 68, extending between the shelf or ledge 32 and the crate bottom 22.The “outside” ribs 64 and 68 merge with respective edges 58, 60 of theadjacent columns, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 7. This generally openarrangement of ribs along the interface of the peripheral wall and cratebottom facilitates drainage but also provides the required strength withreduced amounts of plastic material.

[0031] The columns 40 that are in the four corners of the crate do nothave support buttresses, and have only a single rib 70 on an innersurface 72 of the respective hollow caps, as best seen in FIG. 1. Thecolumns 38′ that are formed in the end walls 18, 20 do have supportbuttresses 48 but have only one side edge 60, the other side edgeremoved to accommodate the end wall handle cut-outs 34 and handle bars36. Note that the handle bars 36 extend between and are flush with thetop surface 24 of the crate as defined by the hollow caps 42′ of the endwall columns 38′. A reinforcement or support strut 74 extends downwardlyfrom the middle of each handle bar 36 to an upwardly projecting,substantially hollow pedestal 76 that is integral with the crate bottom22. The combination of the strut 74 and pedestal 76 provides stiffnessand strength to the handles and to the crate end walls.

[0032] The interior of the crate is open in that there are no partitionsor other internal structures that might otherwise serve to divide thecrate interior into bottle receiving pockets or compartments. The cratebottom 22 is a grid like structure comprised of longitudinal, transverseand diagonal ribs along with solid annular rings as described furtherbelow. The upper surface of the crate bottom is flat and smooth acrosssubstantially the entire interior of the crate, save where thebuttresses 48 join with the outer periphery of the crate bottom, wellinwardly of the respective groups of three substantially L-shaped ribs64, 66 and 68. The flat grid structure nevertheless defines bottlereceiving platforms that include solid, outer annular rings 78 that areengaged by respective bottles. The rings 78 are connected by a regulararray of longitudinal, transverse, and diagonal ribs 80, 82 and 84,respectively, that create a generally open bottom that also preventliquids and small debris from collecting in the crate. These ribs extendthrough the outer annular rings 78 and converge at an inner annular ring86 at the center of each platform. At the center of each group of foursurrounding platforms, certain of the ribs 80, 82 and 84 converge atdrainage holes 88 or 90. All of the diagonal ribs are radially orientedrelative to the center rings 86 of the various platforms.

[0033] In the exemplary embodiment, the crate bottom is formed toinclude four longitudinal rows with six platforms in each row. Thus, thecrate is designed to carry 24 bottles, individually or in six packcarriers. Note, however, that if six pack carriers are utilized, theycannot be of the conventional cardboard type that have side and endwalls connected to a carrier bottom. Such traditional six pack carrierswill not fit in the exemplary crate due to the inwardly projectingbuttresses 50. Shrink wrap carriers of the type that attach only to theupper portions of the bottles may be used, however, and the buttresses50 can thus extend between lower portions of adjacent bottles,unencumbered by any carrier surface.

[0034] With specific reference to FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the lower surface ofthe crate bottom 22 can be viewed as divided into four quadrants, each amirror image of the adjacent quadrants along both the longitudinal andtransverse axes. Within each quadrant, the undersides of the six bottlesupporting platforms are different in terms of rib height, but similarin terms of overall configuration. Maximum rib height coincides with thebottom surfaces of the grid that engage a supporting surface and thatdefine recessed areas that are designed to receive bottle caps ofbottles in an underlying crate when stacked. In other words, with theexception of the recessed areas, most of the ribs in the grid aresubstantially of maximum height. Thus, if the outer annular ribs 92(that depend from the underside of the radially outer edge of outerrings 78 that form the support platforms on the upper surface of thecrate bottom) were of maximum height about a full 360°, and if the ribswithin each ring were of lesser height, the bottle caps would beconfined within circular recesses bounded by the outer annular ribs 92.In the instant invention, however, the outer annular ribs 92 are formedto have some circumferential portion reduced in height so as to becontiguous with reduced height ribs inside the annular ribs 92, as wellas selected of the ribs 80, 82, 84 beyond or outside the annular ribs,thereby providing additional selectively oriented spaces for the bottlecaps to slide in an uninhibited manner. The overall pattern in the fourmirror image quadrants, however, serves to generally center one filledcrate atop another filled crate, but also facilitates dragging of anupper filled crate off a lower filled crate.

[0035] Specifically, and with reference to FIG. 9, one quadrant of theundersurface of the crate is shown. For convenience, the bottle capreceiving areas defined in part by annular ribs 92 are designated A, B,C, D, E and F. For ease of understanding, the periphery of each recessedarea has been drawn with darker lines. The height of rib 92 in area A inthe first row of the quadrant is decreased through an angle of slightlymore than 90° as indicated by the arrow 94 in an area adjacent the sidewall 14. Thus, annular rib 92 between portions 96, 98 of one of thelongitudinal ribs 80 is the same height as the ribs 80, 82 and 84 insidethe annular rib 92 and the same height as the bottom surfaces of ribs64, 66 and 68, thus permitting a bottle cap to slide across rib 92 andlaterally toward (and beyond) the side wall 14 within this open area.Note in this regard that ribs 64, 66 and 68 in all cases are of reducedheight and thus do not engage any supporting surface.

[0036] For platform B, the annular rib 92 is decreased in height throughapproximately 180° as indicated by arrow 96, such that the bottle cap isfree to move transversely toward (and beyond) the side wall 14 andlongitudinally toward (but not into) the next adjacent area C.

[0037] For platform C, the annular rib 92 is decreased in height throughabout 200° as indicated by arrow 98, and is thus free to movetransversely toward (and beyond) side wall 14 and longitudinally toward(and beyond) the end wall 20.

[0038] Receiving area D in the second row of the quadrant is generallysimilar to receiving area A but lies inboard, adjacent the longitudinalaxis. The annular rib 92 has a reduced height through about an 85° angleindicated by arrow 100. The bottle cap is confined, however, bylongitudinal rib 80 running the two rows of the quadrant in thelongitudinal direction.

[0039] Area E is generally similar to adjacent area B, but also liesinboard, adjacent the longitudinal axis of the crate. The annular rib 92is reduced in height through about 180°, as indicated by arrow 102, withthe open area generally facing diagonally toward area C. Within the 180°area, the bottle cap is free to move beyond rib 92 in both longitudinaland transverse directions, but confined by longitudinal and transverseribs 80, 82 between adjacent recesses.

[0040] Area F is similar to adjacent area C, with rib 92 reduced throughabout 200° as indicated by arrow 104. Area F is thus open in thelongitudinal direction toward the nearest handle opening 34, and open inthe transverse direction to the longitudinal rib 80 between the firstand second rows of the quadrant, and open into the corner area.

[0041] In all cases, the reduction in height of the annular ribs 92, orother ribs that confine the bottle caps, is achieved through a taper asopposed to a sharp shoulder. This further enhances the capability of anupper crate to slide across a lower crate.

[0042] When empty, the crates 10 are nestable, with the columns of anunderlying crate extending upwardly through spaces in the crate bottombelow the columns in the overlying crate. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6,vertically extending, transversely oriented ribs 106 are engaged betweenthe inner surfaces of the columns 38 and the inner surfaces of thebuttresses 48, and extend below the hollow caps 42, 42′, terminating atedges 108. Ribs 106 are bisected by vertically extending, longitudinallyoriented ribs 110 that extend just beyond edges 108 of the ribs 106,terminating at edges 112. The top surfaces 24 of underlying columns willthus engage edges 108 between ribs 110 and the inside surface of thebuttresses 48 when stacked empty. Similar nesting ribs are provided inthe end columns 38. Corner columns 40 are provided with single, radiallyoriented nesting ribs 112 that extend between the hollow caps and cornersurfaces, with edges 114 at the same height as edges 108 to therebyengage corner columns of an underlying crate.

[0043] While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A low depth bottle crate having a peripheral wallof uniform height, said peripheral wall including a pair of side wallsand a pair of end walls; a crate bottom connected to said peripheralwall, an upper surface of said crate bottom formed to include a bottlesupporting platform for each bottle to be received in the crate; aplurality of substantially U-shaped cut-outs in upper portions of saidside and end walls defining columns between said cut-outs, lowerportions of said peripheral wall and said columns being of single wallconstruction except for hollow caps at upper ends of said columns thatare of double wall construction; each of said columns, except for fourcorner columns, having a support buttress extending downwardly andinwardly from a lower edge of a respective one of said hollow caps tosaid crate bottom, and wherein said cut-outs terminate at a ledge thatseparates said upper portions of said side and end walls from said lowerportions of said side and end walls, and further wherein said lowerportions of said side and end walls are connected to said crate bottomby a plurality of inwardly directed ribs arranged in groups, directlybelow each cut-out.
 2. The crate of claim 1 wherein each group comprisesthree substantially L-shaped ribs.
 3. The crate of claim 1 wherein saidbuttresses engage said crate bottom inwardly of said groups of inwardlydirected ribs.
 4. The crate of claim 1 including at least one nestingrib between each of said buttresses and an interior surface of each ofsaid columns.
 5. The crate of claim 4 including a nesting rib on aninterior surface of each said corner column.
 6. The crate of claim 1wherein said bottle supporting platforms are flush with said cratebottom.
 7. The crate of claim 1 wherein handle cut-outs are provided inlower portions of said end walls, and handle bars extend betweenadjacent columns in said end walls directly above said handle cut-outs.8. The crate of claim 7 wherein said handle bars are of double wallthickness.
 9. The crate of claim 8 wherein each handle bar is connecteddirectly to said crate bottom.
 10. The crate of claim 1 wherein each ofsaid hollow caps is formed with a pair of bottle supporting ribs facingrespective adjacent bottle receiving platforms.
 11. The crate of claim 1wherein said crate bottom has a lower surface formed with an array ofrecesses adapted to engage bottle caps of bottles carried in anunderlying similar crate.
 12. A low depth bottle crate having aperipheral wall of uniform height, said peripheral wall including a pairof side walls and a pair of end walls; a crate bottom connected to saidperipheral wall, an upper surface of said crate bottom formed to includea bottle supporting platform for each bottle to be received in thecrate; a plurality of substantially U-shaped cut-outs in upper portionsof said side and end walls defining columns between said cut-outs, saidcut-outs terminating at a ledge that separates said upper portions ofsaid side and end walls from lower portions of said side and end walls,and wherein handle cut-outs are provided in lower portions of said endwalls, defining handle bars that extend between adjacent columns in saidend walls directly above said handle cut-outs, each handle bar connecteddirectly to the crate bottom at a mid-point of said handle bar.
 13. Thecrate of claim 12 wherein said handle bar is connected to said cratebottom by a strut extending from said handle bar to a raised pedestal onsaid crate bottom.
 14. The crate of claim 12 wherein said upper surfaceof said crate bottom is flat, with no defined bottle receiving pockets.15. The crate of claim 12 wherein said handle bars are of double wallthickness.
 16. The crate of claim 14 wherein said crate bottom has alower surface formed with an array of recesses adapted to engage bottlecaps of bottles carried in an underlying similar crate.
 17. A low depthbottle crate having a peripheral wall of uniform height, said peripheralwall including a pair of side walls and a pair of end walls; a cratebottom connected to said peripheral wall, an upper surface of said cratebottom formed to include a bottle supporting platform for each bottle tobe received in the crate; a plurality of substantially U-shaped cut-outsin upper portions of said side and end walls defining columns betweensaid cut-outs, lower portions of said peripheral wall and said columnsbeing of single wall construction except for hollow caps at upper endsof said columns that are of double wall construction; and wherein handlecut-outs are provided in lower portions of said end walls, and handlebars extend between adjacent columns in said end walls directly abovesaid handle cut-outs, each handle bar connected directly to the cratebottom; said crate bottom having a lower surface formed with an array ofrecesses adapted to engage bottle caps of bottles carried in anunderlying similar crate, said recesses in each of four quadrants beingindividually different but substantial mirror images of recesses inadjacent quadrants in respective longitudinal and transverse directions.18. The low depth crate of claim 17 wherein said lower portions of saidperipheral wall are connected to said crate bottom by a plurality ofgroups of substantially C-shaped ribs.
 19. The low depth crate of claim18 wherein said recesses have peripheries defined by vertically orientedribs, and wherein said substantially L-shaped ribs have horizontalcomponents with heights less than corresponding heights of saidvertically oriented ribs.
 20. The crate of claim 17 wherein said handlebars are of double wall thickness.
 21. The crate of claim 20 whereineach handle bar is connected directly to said crate bottom.
 22. Thecrate of claim 17 wherein each of said hollow caps is formed with a pairof bottle supporting ribs facing respective adjacent bottle receivingplatforms.
 23. The crate of claim 12 wherein said side walls are formedwith a plurality of laterally spaced wedge slides that provide a smoothtransitions from said upper portions to said lower portion of said sidewalls.